VICE President Sara Duterte announced on Thursday that her travel plans have changed, prompting her to submit a new request to the Office of the President (OP).
This development comes just a day after the OP granted her authority to visit five countries from April 23 to May 15 while she is on leave and at no cost to the government.
In her communication, the vice president expressed gratitude for the approval but cited uncertainty regarding her ability to depart as the reason for the change.
“Thank you for the last-minute issuance of the travel authority. I regret to inform you that the plans have since changed due to uncertainty about whether I will be permitted to depart,” she stated. She assured the OP that a new request would be submitted shortly.
Duterte also requested that future processing be done more efficiently to allow adequate preparation time. “Please ensure that the necessary documents be processed and issued promptly, allowing sufficient time for travel preparations rather than only a few hours before the intended departure,” she added. Aside from the timeline, she also emphasized the need to maintain the confidentiality and proper handling of sensitive documents to ensure security.
The Vice President was originally cleared to visit The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Duterte was absent during the impeachment hearing conducted by the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday as the proceedings against her continue.
